Gargoyle Gecko Tail Rot: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Key causes of tail rot are incomplete shedding, excessive moisture, wrong temperatures, malnourishment, and infected open wounds.
Gargoyle geckos are hardy pets but they are vulnerable to diseases such as tail rot.
Tail rot is also known as tail necrosis and it is basically the rotting of a gecko’s tail.
Key signs of tail necrosis include retained shed on the tail, blackening of the tail, dryness and stiffness on the tail, lethargy, lots of hiding, loss of appetite, and aggression.
Tail rot is a painful and stressful experience for gargoyle geckos.
Administering antibiotics or tail amputation are the best treatment options.
Preventive measures are providing a balanced diet, treating open wounds, proper husbandry, and avoiding cohabitation.
Engaging a vet should save your gecko from severe tail rot and death.

Gargoyle geckos are considered hardy pets but they are not immune to infections and injuries.

Surprisingly, infections can attack the least likely organ which happens to be the tail.

A tail infection can manifest itself in the form of rotting. When that happens, the cells around the tail will die and cause the tail to turn black.

Tail rot in gargoyle geckos is a serious condition that should be treated as soon as possible. Ignoring tail rot can turn out to be fatal.

What Is Gargoyle Gecko Tail Rot?

Tail rot is a condition that causes the gargoyle gecko’s tail to rot away. This condition is also referred to as tail necrosis. A rotting tail will turn black, especially at the point of infection.

The rotting can spread to the rest of the tail and even the body if left unaddressed. So, if you notice anything off with your gargoyle gecko’s tail, don’t hesitate to contact your vet.

Causes Of Gargoyle Gecko Tail Rot?

Tail rot in gargoyle geckos doesn’t just happen out of the blues. So, if you suspect tail rot in your pet gargoyle gecko, it could have originated from any of these causes:

Untreated Open Wounds

Open wounds on your gargoyle gecko must be treated regardless of whether they are on the tail or body. Unfortunately, some gecko keepers tend to ignore minor tail wounds.

Those minor wounds don’t always heal on their own. In any case, open wounds are vulnerable to infections.

So, if you leave any open wounds untreated, you’ll be exposing the gargoyle gecko to possible tail necrosis.

But where would gargoyle geckos get wounds from? Well, probably fighting, falling, or a playtime accident.

Malnourishment

Malnourishment is yet another reason why gargoyle geckos are susceptible to tail rot and other infections.

So if you fail to provide proper nutrition to your pet gecko, expect various infections to attack.

In most cases, malnourishment can happen due to a lack of vitamins and minerals in the gecko’s diet.

Without these key nutrients, your gecko’s immunity will become compromised and susceptible to infections.

A tiny scratch on the gecko’s tail can be a major problem especially when the gecko has a weak immune system.

Incomplete Shedding

Incomplete shedding is yet another issue that can cause tail rot. Remember that geckos shed to allow for more room for growth.

So, if the old shed gets stuck on the tail, it will probably cut blood circulation.

The incomplete shed will constrict the tail and restrict blood from circulating. This effect can lead to tail rot if not addressed.

Sometimes you’ll have to help the gargoyle gecko if you spot any stuck shed on its body.

However, you shouldn’t have any issues with shedding if you provide the right humidity.

Gargoyle Gecko Shedding Skin — Gargoyle gecko incomplete shed

Incorrect Temperature

Inadequate or excessive temperatures may not play a direct role in tail rot but they can contribute to the problem.

You see, the wrong temperatures may affect the shedding process of your gargoyle gecko.

If the shedding is incomplete, it might get stuck onto the tail and cause necrosis.

Too Much Moisture

Gargoyle geckos need high humidity to promote proper shedding. However, you must control the moisture levels in the gecko’s enclosure to avoid causing problems.

Too much moisture encourages bacteria and fungal infections in geckos. Unfortunately, if these infections attack the gecko’s tail, they’ll cause necrosis or rotting.

Allowing the gargoyle gecko’s tank to dry out sometimes will help reduce excess moisture that would otherwise cause bacteria and fungal infections.

How To Identify Gargoyle Gecko Tail Rot

Identifying tail rot on your gargoyle gecko should be easy as long as you know what to look for.

Besides, you spot problems with your pet if you’ve been interacting with it daily. Here are the tell-tale signs you should look for:

Black color on the tail – Your gargoyle gecko’s tail might start turning black from the tip or affected spot. The dark color could mean that the tail has begun to rot.
Dry tail – A rotting tail may feel dry to the touch. The skin on the tail may also start to flake off.
Stuck shed – Your gecko shouldn’t have any old skin after it’s done shedding. So, any stuck shed on the tail could be a red flag you shouldn’t ignore.
Less flexible tail – Gargoyle geckos have flexible tails because they need them for climbing. However, the tail may lose its flexibility after the onset of necrosis.

Apart from these obvious signs, you’ll also want to look for behavioral symptoms such as lethargy, aggression, loss of appetite, and too much hiding.

Is It Painful For Gargoyle Geckos?

Yes. Tail rot is a painful experience for gargoyle geckos. Having a body part that’s rotting away is always a painful experience.

That’s why gargoyle geckos with tail necrosis are aggressive, stressed, and always hiding.

How To Treat Gargoyle Gecko Tail Rot

Tail rot in gargoyle geckos can’t heal on its own. As such, you must step in to help cure the infection. Here are some of the effective tail rot treatments you should try:

Antibiotic Treatment

Administering antibiotics to your gecko may help treat the damaged tail and prevent the infection from spreading further.

However, antibiotics are only effective when you catch the infection early.

Once your vet confirms that your gecko has tail necrosis, they’ll prescribe the right antibiotics. These antibiotics should work as long as the tail rot is at its early stages.

Never use OTC antibiotics without seeking a second opinion from a qualified vet.

Amputation

Antibiotics will not always cure or stop tail necrosis. Sometimes the rot is so bad that the vet will need to do a minor surgery on your gecko.

In such cases, the vet has no option but to amputate part of the tail. The vet will identify the right spot to amputate to stop the rot from spreading.

How Do You Know If You Should Consult A Vet?

reptile vet — Take your gargoyle gecko to the vet

Well, tail rot isn’t something you should ignore. In any case, you shouldn’t try home remedies as they might not work.

Besides, the more you delay, the faster the rot spreads.

So, if you suspect that your gargoyle gecko’s tail is rotting, don’t hesitate to consult your local vet.

The vet will diagnose the problem and recommend the right course of action.

Never ignore tail rot as it can spread to other vital organs and cause your gargoyle gecko to pass away.

Besides, taking action will save your gecko a lot of stress and pain.

What You Can Do To Prevent Tail Rot In The Future?

Tail rot can be a nasty experience for your gargoyle gecko. Therefore, you must protect your pet gecko from tail necrosis at all costs.

Here are some awesome tips to help keep tail rot at bay:

Proper Husbandry

Proper husbandry is the best way to protect your gargoyle gecko from tail rot. Providing and maintaining the right humidity levels and temperatures works like a charm.

With proper husbandry, you don’t have to worry about tail rot caused by incomplete shedding or bacteria and fungal infections.

gargoyle gecko in an enclosure — Gargoyle gecko in an enclosure

Proper Nutrition

Apart from proper husbandry, you’ll also need to provide your gargoyle gecko with the right diet.

So, as you feed fruits, insects, and commercial diets, make sure you supplement with vitamin D and calcium.

A good diet should boost your gecko’s immunity, making it strong enough to fight off infections.

Treatment Of Open Wounds

Handling your gecko with care should minimize any kind of injuries. However, accidents do happen and it’s your responsibility to treat any open wounds before they become infected.

Treating wounds promptly should prevent tail rot.

Don’t Cohabitate

Gargoyle geckos shouldn’t be housed together. Each gecko should have a separate enclosure to avoid unnecessary fights.

So, unless you are breeding a male and female, always keep gargoyle geckos in different enclosures to prevent fights that may inflict wounds.

Conclusion

Tail rot is a condition that you wouldn’t want your gargoyle gecko to have. This condition is painful and can be detrimental to the health of your gargoyle gecko.

Luckily, you can treat the condition through antibiotics and amputation. However, it shouldn’t get to that point as we’ve given tips to help you prevent gargoyle gecko tail rot in the future.

What Is Gargoyle Gecko Tail Rot?